Thursday, December 4, 2025

118.8 - back up the .8 I was down yesterday. Must be the crackers I munched on while waiting for DH to bring soup LOL.

The countertops look great in the kitchen. Looks like brand new marble. I paid extra for them to remove the old grout in the seams and put new in. That makes a big difference.

Book club was good yesterday and my little Santa appetizers were a big hit (see below). So easy to make! The discussion on the book was addressing the question of why we hated the book: no one liked it! The hostess who chose the book apologized. She picked it based on the short length of the book and good reviews. I saw those reviews too and have to wonder what they were thinking.

I have read that AI sources are not always reliable and boy did I find that out yesterday. There was a scene in the book that I wanted clarification on but didn't want to go back and reread it. So I asked ChatGPT about it. It changed the name and sex of one of the main characters and put the narrator at the scene but the narrator wasn't there. When I confronted it about those errors, it said it was a good thing I asked, told me I was correct, and proceeded to give a new account of the scene with that information corrected! So use AI with caution!

I am hosting the next book club in February so I pick the book. Any suggestions?

Today I have ladies association golf, then will meet DH and his sisters at the beach club. The ladies had quite a sunburn from yesterday so they better be careful today.

But first a Justice walk! Have a thriving Thursday!

AI worries me. Outsourcing critical thinking to a machine seems like a bad idea. Convenient, sure, but what are we getting ourselves into? Especially with the human propensity to believe things that are written in a persuasive way whether it's true or not as in Liz's case. I think about the law firm that got in trouble because the clerks were using AI to write briefs and ChatGPT made up fake case citations to bolster the argument. If you don't use your brain, it'll atrophy!

I'm so pleased with how the vent is turning out. I put a picture on TT. They'll come back next week to paint. The electricians also put up wall sconces in the powder room and put up a big swing arm sconce in the living room for over the table. Today the roofers are banging away to move out the pile of old Trex boards and power wash to seal the last portion of roof under where the deck will be replaced. They'll come back to silicone seal when it dries, then back again when they get the new boards to rebuild the deck. And THEN I should be worker-free for a good long stretch!

Today I think I'll play with my window washing robot. I don't think it'll be able to do the big living room and dining room windows as the tether isn't long enough, but I have plenty of other windows it can help with. The directions have all the limits in meters and I have zero frame of reference, so need to convert and figure out which windows it can handle. (I'm hearing Julia Roberts in Notting Hill: "Give it to me in yards...)

Later I'm having an early dinner with the crazy neighbor.

The sun is shining today with no clouds. And there is no one inside my house but Kirby. It's a good day!

Even in yards probbly isn't going to help me. I need a string or something to represent the length.

PS, love the Santa hats!!

Very cute Santa appetizers, and something everyone can enjoy. Picking out the book seems like a daunting task. But of course I can't resist so I I'm looking over at my bookcase where I keep only the books I really loved. Most books I donate to St. Vinny's when I'm done. I would recommend This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger, Maybe You Should Talk to Somebody by Lori Gottlich, The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennant, The Dutch House House by Anne Pachette and anything by Barbra Kingsolver ( I've read all of her books and my favorites are Poisonwood Bible, The Prodigal Summer and Demon Copperhead, but they are all pretty long books). Of these titles, This Tender Land is probably a good fit for a diverse group of readers. It's set in the Great Depression ( and in Minnesota!) and it's about 4 boys who escape an Indian Boarding School. It was a staff favorite at my high school. None of these may seem right for your group, I just thought i'd throw them out there.

Well, my Mom did surprise me and signed up for Hospice. She seems okay with the decision, outside of saying it makes everything so final. My brother has mixed feelings (he attended the meeting). He likes what they are offering, and sees how it will help, but also said we've tried to keep her going for so long, this feels like we're giving up. He doesn't like that she won't see the cardiologist anymore ( but she'll still take her meds and be followed by the Hospice Doctor) or have any bloodwork done. I understand why he feels that way. We all agree that if the services aren't helping, my Mom can sign out of Hospice. I am hopeful that having a team around her that is focused on her comfort and can order equipment and help her use it will ease some of her suffering.

Today is DD's 33rd birthday. I am so happy to be her Mom.

It is sunny here, but bitterly cold. Subzero air and windchill temps. I got up and put on my workout clothes. It will be minimal suffering. I can use the remote start to warm up the car in the garage, and it's a very quick walk into the club. The car will be sitting in the sun, so the interior should stay a little warmer than the actual temp. It was nice taking a day off yesterday and hiding from the cold, but, this is where I live, so time to get on with it. If I don't, how will I have Thriving Thursday : )

201.9 - up, down, up, down... Boo hoo...

Frigid weather up north in Minnesota! It's so pleasant there in summer, that it's hard for me to imagine it being so bitterly cold there! Again, California Boy with limited winter weather experience.

Cute Santa skewers, Liz!

Visiting my old school and spending time at lunch with my former teaching partner was absolutely wonderful. The school has a new principal, who I wrote directly to the superintendent to recommend. She is repairing a lot of damage done by the former principal and the healing is palpable.

I took inspiration from Diamond D and made a loaf of banana bread yesterday between my cancelled video Dr. appointment and the live stream interview I did last night. That interview thing went a LONG time. We prepped for about 45 minutes and then the interview lasted 90 minutes. A good time was had. But by the time the interview was done and I got the dogs fed it was after 9 and I was ravenous. I ate a normal dinner, but had an extra slice of banana bread while watching TV which put me over the edge. I had to almost sit up in bed to alleviate the pressure on my esophageal sphincter. I HATE when I do that to myself.

Anyhow.... I enjoyed baking. It's been a while since I've done any baking. I have three more bananas peeled and frozen ready for the next batch. It's so easy to make, too. You know what would make it absolutely wicked good? Top it with cream cheese frosting!!!! Wish I hadn't thought of that!

One thing about being on Tirzepatide... It's so easy to have things like banana bread and ice cream in the house and not over indulge. Makes me feel pretty normal.

Must have a thriving Thursday, too, so off I go on my day...

I have thought of the cream cheese frosting, and resisted. But if I make pumpkin bread, there will be cream cheese topping. It's a law.

I am in love with this guy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriskindareads?igsh=OTR0emg0amJsa jlk

He has a newly discovered love of reading and it is so inspiring! The kids are gonna be alright as they say...

Greetins all

Sun again. There are beach warnings for high surf but I sure don't see any signs of wind in our back yard. Some people go out on the jetties to watch the big waves at this time of year but it is kind of dangerous. No thanks. I almost feel guilty having nice weather here when it is so bitterly cold elsewhere. But we will get ours when it rains for a week straight.

So I did the gym yesterday and then bought some more clay. Lifting the 25 pound bag reminds me of how much strain it is for me to carry the same around on my azz. Today I will again do the gym and go to the studio and start new items. Same routine which I find comforting.

Regarding books, one of the best I have read is The Forgery of Venus. It is the story of a young artist who falls in with some forgers and then mysterious things happen. Quite good. Liz I hope you find a good choice for the group. The fruit treats look great! Nice presentation.

And yeah don't get me started on AI. I listened to a NPR interview with a reporter who designed an AI of himself to do interviews and had it call his friends. The result was superficially believable yet his friends all figured it out because of lack of nuance. Totally appropriate responses and yet lack of personal guile and humor. And yeah CC no telling what mischief could occur in the legal world.

Speaking of mischief, CC so glad you have the vent in and will soon be free of repair workers. You deserve your home to yourself. Our lawn service is here and while they are pretty quick, we always have to chase around and get the dogs in and make sure the gates get closed and put up with noise. Guess I am a curmudgeon.

Banana bread!!! Cream cheese frosting! Now there is an excellent idea. Walnuts I hope.

So I just sent my very first Venmo. Only took about 5 attempts. Lordy I am so tech challenged. So much of it defies logic. Sent $ to our house cleaner who hurt her knee walking dogs.

Well DD I am glad your mom has accepted hospice. They will help her a lot. My mom was on it for a year and then got kicked off because she did not die. About 6 month later they put her back on but equipment was changed out and it was dumb. Making that decision is a recognition of change to come and it sounds like your mom has a hard time with change. Wishing the best. Stay warm.

Not sure whats for dinner tonight - DH will go to the hippie dippy grocery in search of pot pie and other delights. Probably no banana bread.

Diane S

Best to take your time with Venmo and Zelle, for 5 times isn't a bad thing. I hAve two friends who both accidentally sent money to the wrong people. One for nearly $1000 who thankfully got it back because the person he sent it to was a good soul and the other for a small amount who did not get it back. It's always the most challenging with common names!